Markets

Tesco, the UK's biggest supermarket chain, has reported a drop in profits of 23.5% in the first half of its financial year.

New laws passing through Parliament could see bankers found guilty of "reckless misconduct" jailed for up to seven years.

Consumer staples shares dragged the FTSE 100 into the red this morning after Unilever said profit growth from its emerging markets business would miss expectations.

The value of short positions in UK and European stocks has hit multi-year lows as the recent market run-up dissuades investors from making negative bets.

Sterling rose to its highest level in nine months against the US dollar as the US government slipped into a partial shutdown.

BEHAVIOURAL FINANCE

EQUITIES

ON ASIA PACIFIC

Investors fled Italian equities on Monday morning as political tensions resurfaced in Italy, while fears of a potential US government shutdown also impacted markets across Europe.

THE BIQ QUESTION